For overseas-qualified dentists who want to practise in the United Kingdom, the Overseas Registration Exam (ORE) is the main route to registration with the General Dental Council (GDC). It comes in two parts, and Part 1 is where everyone starts.
Part 1 is a written exam, but it is not a simple recall test. It checks whether you can apply knowledge in a way that fits UK practice, ethics and law. This post walks through what Part 1 involves and how to build a study plan that actually gets you through it.
Exam details and booking rules are updated from time to time, so always check the latest GDC guidance before planning your dates.
The ORE has two parts:
You need to pass Part 1 before you can sit Part 2. Recent guidance also indicates that both Part 1 papers must be passed in the same sitting, and that there are limits on the number of attempts and on the time allowed to complete the whole exam. Candidates book through their MyGDC account. You can read more on our ORE exam page.
Between the two papers, Part 1 tests a broad range of material. Broadly, you can expect:
Questions are in single best answer (SBA) format. Recent guidance describes each paper as around 100 questions over roughly two hours. In practice, that means you need to be efficient. You have a little over a minute per question on average.
Many candidates are surprised by how much Part 1 leans on UK-specific standards. Areas that commonly need extra attention include:
Your clinical knowledge may be excellent, but if you answer law and ethics questions based on rules from another country, you will lose marks. Plan dedicated study time for these topics. They are often underestimated.
Take a timed practice set covering both papers’ content areas. Sort your wrong answers into knowledge gaps, UK-context gaps and reasoning errors. This gives you a clear starting map.
Work through each subject area in turn. Keep sessions short and active: read for 40 to 45 minutes, then do questions on what you just covered. Build a personal summary page for each topic as you go.
Give this its own block of time. Read the key GDC standards and UK guidance documents, and practise scenario-based questions. Ask yourself what the GDC would expect a UK dentist to do, not what is common practice elsewhere.
Shift toward mixed question sets and full-length timed papers. Sit both papers on the same day, as you will in the real exam, to build stamina and pacing.
In the last few weeks, focus on your error log, high-yield topics and timed practice. Avoid starting big new topics late. Consolidate what you know.
Single best answer questions often have more than one plausible option. A few habits help:
Many candidates find that guidance makes the biggest difference in two places: learning the UK-specific material efficiently, and getting feedback on reasoning in SBA questions. ORE online coaching gives you both, along with a plan that fits around work and family.
At DentaBest, our ORE program offers flexible, one-on-one sessions built around your target sitting. We help you prioritise the right topics, review your practice results and build confidence with UK-style questions.
Part 2 is a very different challenge, with hands-on and clinical stations. But the knowledge and reasoning you build for Part 1, especially around UK standards, carries straight through. Good Part 1 preparation sets you up well for what comes next.
Recent guidance indicates both papers must be passed in the same sitting to progress to Part 2. Check the current GDC rules when you book.
Single best answer questions, delivered on computer, across two papers.
Candidates book through their MyGDC account once booking windows open.
ORE Part 1 preparation works best when you combine solid clinical knowledge with a real understanding of UK practice, and plenty of timed SBA practice. Plan in phases, give law and ethics proper attention and sit full mocks before the big day.
If you would like help planning your ORE journey, book a free orientation with our team.
